16 from '16: The Punters.com.au star performers of the year

Our slightly serious, slightly left-field look at the best performers of 2016.

16. Matthew "The Poon Train" Poon

Adelaide-based apprentice Matthew "The Poon Train" Poon captured our attention with his name but won our punting hearts with his riding ability. Currently second in the Adelaide premiership, the 23-year-old loves riding winners and is an absolute weapon on a leader. All aboard and #DrinkGoonBackPoon🍷

15. Pakistan Star 🇵🇰⭐️

The Twitter narks are doing their best to kill the buzz around this Hong Kong swooper but he's bloody fun to watch. His debut win, which attracted almost 3.5 million views on our facebook page, was astonishing 🐎💨.

14. Lizzie Jelfs

A former foreperson for David Hayes, Jelfs added original, knowledgable and useful insight as a mounting yard analyst with Racing.com (she can find a winner too 💰). She'll provide a refreshing change from the all-too-common "I've got the favourite on top" analysis in her new role at Sky.

12. Rhett 'the form guide thief' Wilsmore

Rhett is a skilled exponent of the popular Saturday morning 'nicking form guides from cafe newspapers' technique. We typically don't encourage thievery but this is an act of mischief we can definitely get behind. Get 'em Rhett! 🇦🇺

Dead set, if knocking off form guides out of newspapers from cafes and eateries was a sport, I'd be representing Australia #greenandgold

A photo posted by Punters (@punters.com.au) on Dec 17, 2016 at 2:02am PST

10. Linda Meech

It's baffling that this Stawell-based jockey doesn't get more opportunities in the city. A gun on leaders - and currently second in the Victorian statewide premiership - the down-to-earth Meech gives her horse "every possible" more often than not.

No nonsense, just winners. Photo: Getty.

9. Chautauqua ⚡️

Things went a little pear-shaped at the spring carnival but his autumn work, featuring the belowlast-to-first win in Hong Kong, was phenomenal.

7. Jeff Lloyd

It's a shame there aren't any alcoholic drinks that rhyme with 'Jeff' or 'Lloyd' because the 55-year-old continually gives punters reason to celebrate. His seven-win haul at the Sunshine Coast was ridiculous and he's simply better than them in Queensland.

5. John O'Shea's tongue

Godolphin's trainer did a solid job conditioning winners for the blue jackets - and importantly got Hartnell back to his best - but produced his best gear off the track. When quizzed about whether Hartnell's confidence had taken a hit from the thrashing Winx gave him in the Cox Plate, O'Shea delivered the line of the year...

"She [Winx] was that far in front, he [Hartnell] probably thought he’d won."

John O'Shea, October 31

4.Swimming Goat

It takes a special greyhound to transcend the code but this NZ-based sprinter is a freak on four paws. 'The Goat' won 22 straight before succumbing to a shock defeat over his pet 295m trip at Addington. Fortunately the loss didn't dent his confidence and he's currently constructing another picket fence (seven wins and counting).

Super Goat.

3. Charlie Appleby

Godolphin's British trainer arrived at the spring carnival as a no-name in Australia but left as a punters' favourite. Appleby prepared five winners from 10 starters, including the utterly-dominant Bendigo Cup/Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Francis Of Assisi. He'll be welcomed back with open wallets next year.

Charlie Appleby reportedly forming a "raiding party" for the Sydney autumn... And I for one welcome our new Godolphin overlord. 💰

2. Nyngan funeral punters

As a mark of respect to his late mum Shirley, Peter Trothe told a 400-strong wake contingent at the Nyngan (a tiny town in central NSW) RSL a to have an each-way ticket on Stradbroke roughie The Virginian - one of Shirley's favourite horses. Peter reckons the cheers "nearly lifted the roof off" when the $201 pop ran an unexpected third. The collect queue reportedly stretched as far as the main street and many punters were asked to return the following day to pick up their winnings (they cleaned the joint out!).

Legends.

1. Winx

The mighty mare won eight from eight in 2016, including six Group Ones, and produced one of the best Cox Plate performances of all time. A special mention must also go to her A-grade jockey Hugh Bowman, who takes it all in his stride and finds the right path home every time. She's apples 👌🍎🍏